Stimulation Shoe For the Proper Development of the Plantar Arches

ABSTRACT

A children&#39;s shoe ( 1 ) for the stimulation of the plantar arches to the ends of the prevention or cure of flat foot, comprising a cushion-shaped element ( 6 ) having a sandwich-shaped construction, extending in correspondence of the internal portion ( 4 ) of the sole ( 3 ) of the shoe ( 1 ) and exhibiting a substantial elastic deformability during a subject&#39;s walking cycle.

The present invention relates to a stimulation shoe for the properdevelopment of the plantar arches in order to prevent or cure flat foot,and in particular to a children's shoe.

As it is known to the persons skilled in the art, we all are born withthe so-called “flat foot”. When learning to walk, exercising walking welearn how to contract the muscles of the foot plant, and therebygenerally the arch architecture of the plant itself organizes. Usually,mothers are advised to have children start walking on sand, as a softand elastic support fosters the good operation of the plant andtherefore a proper forming of said plantar arches.

Nevertheless, in the last decades there has taken hold the use of smallshoes always more rigid and scarcely elastic also in pediatric age. Ifon the one hand such rigidity meets some preventive and therapeuticdemands, on the other hand it has increased the incidence and thefrequency of flat feet both in children and in adults.

Hence, the technical problem posed and solved by the present inventionis to provide a shoe, and in particular a children's shoe, overcomingthe drawbacks mentioned hereto with reference to the known art.

Such a problem is solved by a shoe according to claim 1.

Preferred features of the present invention are present in the dependentclaims thereof.

The present invention provides several relevant advantages. The mainadvantage is that during the walking the cushion element carries out astimulating action on the plant, fostering the correct development ofthe plantar arches. In particular, the shoe of the invention allowsre-creating inside the shoe—and especially inside the small shoe of achild—an optimal and ideal environment for the physiological stress ofthe foot, so as to develop normal muscle tensions and normal plantararches, as well as opposing the damages deriving from walking on rigidand inelastic terrains.

Other advantages, features and the modes of employ of the presentinvention will be made apparent in the following detailed description ofsome embodiments thereof, given by way of a non-limiting example.Reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a partially sectional view of an embodiment of the shoeaccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section view of a cushion-shaped element ofthe shoe of FIG. 1.

Initially referring to FIG. 1, a shoe according to an embodiment of theinvention is globally indicated by 1. In particular, the shoe 1 is thesmall shoe of a child, of the kind employed for the first walks of thelatter.

Alike any known shoe, the shoe 1 comprises a top vamp 2 and a bottomsole 3. In the present embodiment, both the vamp 2 and the sole 3 areelastically deformable during the walking cycle of the child. Inparticular, the vamp 2 is made of soft leather and the sole 3 is made ofrubber.

In the top portion 4 of the sole 3, i.e. in the portion of the latterfacing the foot plant, the shoe 1 has a seat 5 that receives a cushionelement 6 exhibiting a substantial elastic deformability during thesubject's walking cycle.

In the present embodiment, the element 6 extends basically along theentire extension of the sole 3. Variant embodiments could insteadprovide for the element 6 to extend only in correspondence of theportion of sole apt to supportably receive the foot portioncorresponding to the plantar arches.

Always according to variant embodiments, the cushion-shaped element maybe delimited by a peripheral seam, also in the absence of said seat.

In addition, there can be provided different cushion elements positionedat reflexiological areas of the plant including, yet not necessarilylimited to, the plantar arches.

Moreover, the cushion element may be shaped according to the specificneeds of the subject using it and have predetermined shapes andelevations.

The cushion-shaped element may also be made so as to comprise aplurality of elevations delimited by peripheral seams.

Always in the present embodiment, the element 6 has a substantiallysandwich-shaped structure, comprising a top layer 7, a bottom layer 8and an intermediate layer 9 interposed therebetween.

Preferably, the top layer 7 and the bottom layer 8 are made of pararubber.

The intermediate layer 9 is formed by a para rubber mix and by asilicone mix, both comprising particles of irregular shape the averagesize of which is of about 1 mm for each rubber particle and comprised ina range of about 1.5-2.0 mm for each silicone particle.

The embodiment of the intermediate layer with particles, and inparticular with irregular particles, improves the elastic stimulation offoot plant.

Preferably, the cushion element 6 has a thickness comprised in a rangeof about 8-10 mm.

The cushion element 6 according to the invention may be stationary orremovable. It will presently be better understood that, during thewalking cycle, the elastic deformation of the element 6, following justthe loading/unloading cycles of the foot, allows the shoe 1 to produce astimulating action on the foot plant, enabling a correct development ofthe plantar arches and therefore preventing or curing the flat foot.

In the present embodiment, the elastic deformability of the sole 3 andof the vamp 4 carry out an action synergic to said stimulation.

The present invention has hereto been described with reference topreferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that there could beother embodiments thereof afferent to the same inventive kernel, allfalling within the protective scope of the claims hereinafter.

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A stimulation shoe for the proper development ofthe plantar arches in order to prevent or cure flat foot, comprising acushion element, extending at least at an internal top portion of thesole of the shoe facing the foot plant, said internal portion being aptto supportably receive the foot portion corresponding to the plantararches, and having a substantial elastic deformability during thesubject's walking cycle, wherein said cushion element has asubstantially sandwich-shaped structure with an intermediate layercomprising particles of irregular shape.
 20. The shoe according to claim19, wherein said cushion element extends substantially along the entireextension of the sole of the shoe itself.
 21. The shoe according toclaim 19, wherein said cushion element is formed by two external layers,at least one of which comprising rubber,y the intermediate layer beinginterposed between said external layers.
 22. The shoe according to claim21, wherein said intermediate layer comprises a rubber mix.
 23. The shoeaccording to claim 21, wherein the rubber forming said external layersand/or said mix is para rubber.
 24. The shoe according to claim 19,wherein said intermediate layer comprises a silicone mix.
 25. The shoeaccording to claim 22, wherein said rubber mix comprises rubberparticles having an average size of about 1 mm.
 26. The shoe accordingto claim 21, wherein said intermediate layer comprises a silicone mixcomprising silicone particles having an average size comprised in arange of about 1.5-2.0 mm.
 27. The shoe according to claim 19, whereinsaid cushion element is removable.
 28. The shoe according to claim 19,wherein said cushion element has a thickness comprised in a range ofabout 8-10 mm.
 29. The shoe according to claim 19, the vamp of which hasa substantial elastic deformability during the subject's walking cycle.30. The shoe according to claim 19, the vamp of which is made ofleather.
 31. The shoe according to claim 19, having a seat, obtained inits own sole, that receives said cushion element.
 32. The shoe accordingto claim 19, the sole of which is made of an elastically deformablematerial.
 33. The shoe according to claim 19, the sole of which is madeof rubber.
 34. The shoe according to claim 19, which is a children'sshoe.
 35. The shoe according to claim 19, wherein said cushion elementcomprises a plurality of elevations.
 36. The shoe according to claim 35,wherein said elevations are delimited by peripheral seams.